The Staples High School music department has announced weather-related contingency plans for this weekend’s Candlelight Concert.
If Saturday’s performances must be postponed due to snow, they will be rescheduled for Sunday, at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
If Sunday’s concerts must also be postponed, there will be one performance only: Monday, at 7 p.m.
Check local media outlets, as well as the Westport Public Schools’ snow emergency line (203-341-1766) for information.
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Posted in Arts, Staples HS, Weather
For decades — ever since Westport became a car-dependent suburb — older citizens have faced an intractable problem: What to do when driving gets tough.
Poor vision, slowing reflexes, bad weather — all make seniors hesitant to drive. But automobiles are crucial to local life. If you can’t get around, you can’t really live here.
Soon, that will change.
CoastalCT Senior Transportation, Inc. is gearing up to provide transportation in private cars in Westport, Wilton, Weston, Easton, Fairfield and Norwalk. Trained volunteers will help older adults remain independent by driving them to appointments, shopping, even out for lunch.
There are no restrictions on the purpose of a ride — and help is available to carry packages, fold walkers, even open doors.
The service — available to anyone over 60, and visually impaired adults — operates 24/7.
The program — part of a national model — operates through pre-paid accounts for individuals or families. For over a year, Leslie Wolf and a small group of volunteers has worked to bring the service to this area.
“Driving ranks as the number one issue for older adults,” Leslie says. “Everyone wants to remain active without relying on relatives and friends.”
Independent Transportation America — the umbrella organization — was founded by Katherine Freund. The Wall Street Journal called her “1 of the 12 people who are changing your retirement.”
In 1988, Freund’s 3-year-old son was struck by a car driven by an 84-year- old. She vowed to identify an alternative to driving that older people would find attractive, and that would approximate what they are giving up. The volunteer-driven transportation system has expanded to 14 sites in 11 states. ITNCoastalCT is the 15th affiliate.
More news about funding will be available soon. Rides will be offered starting in June, with a special celebration planned for September.
In the meantime, get ready to enjoy Westport’s newest ride.
(For more information, call Leslie Wolf: 203-856-3737).
Westport seems divided in 2. There are red lights that drivers routinely plow through, as if color-blind or impervious to law. And there are those that everyone always stops for.
The most notorious, of course, is the Post Road and Roseville. As noted last June, folks fly down the hill past McDonald’s like lemmings to the sea — 4, 5, even 6 cars after the light turns red. This light has even less power than the no-cellphones-while-driving law.
In 2nd place is the one exiting Trader Joe’s. This is arguably more dangerous than McDonald’s’; at least there, Post Road drivers can see you coming. In the Compo Acres lot, you get a green and you’re ready to leave. You have no idea 3 or 4 eastbound Post Road drivers are about to disregard their red.
Just a few yards away, Compo Road intersects US1. Depending on the time of day, drivers often roar through this one too. In the morning, people heading to the station race from North Compo to South Compo, against the red. At night, it’s reversed.
But — and this is the point of today’s post — similar intersections never have problems. Sylvan Road North, for example, has nearly the same grade as Roseville; drivers there are no doubt in the same rush as everywhere else in town. Yet I’ve never seen anyone try to beat the Sylvan Road North light.
It’s the same at Turkey Hill South and Morningside North. Downtown, drivers always stop at Parker Harding Plaza.
I have no idea why some red lights are always obeyed, while others are magnets for law-breakers. “06880” readers: What do you think?
Posted in Totally random, Westport life
The Westport Country Playhouse continues to strengthen its hometown roots.
In addition to offering an open house, welcoming area young professionals — even sponsoring a blood drive — this Sunday Westport’s artistic crown jewel presents the Broadway Boys, in a concert of Broadway and holiday favorites.
The Broadway Boys are “the hottest male voices currently working on the New York stage.” And 3 of the Broadway Boys — okay, they’re actually in the band — are Westport natives.
Broadway Boys musicians (from left): Dan Asher, Justin Paul, Drew McKeon.
Justin Paul is the musical director and accompanist. Dan Asher is the bassist. Drew McKeon plays drums.
All 3 grew up in Westport — and got their musical chops at Staples.
Justin currently serves as musical director/conductor for the off-Broadway hit “Altar Boyz.” Dan has performed at legendary jazz venues like Birdland and the Blue Note, while Drew tours internationally.
The upcoming concert repertoire includes holiday songs and show tunes.
This is musical entertainment at its best. You can go to Broadway — or you can stay in town and see Westport’s special Broadway Boys, in Westport’s own special theater.
(Tickets are $35, and can be purchased by calling 203-227-4177; visiting the box office, or clicking here.)
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Posted in Arts, Entertainment, People, Westport Country Playhouse
Tagged Broadway Boys, Dan Asher, Drew McKeon, Justin Paul, Westport Country Playhouse
The Westport Weston Family Y has received a 5-year extension on the sale of its downtown building.
According to WestportNow.com, the original plan was to break ground for the Mahackeno facility this year, and move in in 2011. Litigation by neighbors, and the difficult economy affecting the developer (Bedford Square Associates) has pushed the schedule back 2 years.
But sources have told “06880” that the economy is hitting the Y hard too. It’s tough to raise $42 million for a controversial new building these days — and the capital campaign has not even begun.
Money, Cyndi Lauper says, changes everything.
So does no money.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has authorized the Town of Westport to remove illegal signage from state roads here, WestportNow.com reports.
Over a year ago, P&Z director Larry Bradley said his department had received many complaints about “excessive and/or illegal commercial signage.” Today’s decision is a direct result of that problem.
In related news, WestportNow says, the P&Z will continue to suspend enforcement of free-standing portable signs displayed in front of Westport businesses until January 31. That action addresses merchants’ needs in a down economy.
“06880” has no comment on these 2 news items.
Legal? Illegal? Or both?
For some people, the holiday season starts with store sales the morning after Thanksgiving. Others don’t feel the mood until they get their first Christmas card, open house invitation or fruitcake.
For me, the holidays don’t start until I hear the first notes of Staples’ Candlelight Concert.
That happens this Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (7 and 9:30 p.m.). If you’ve ever been to one — or every one, since the 1st performance way back in 1940 — you know the magic of this music. If you’ve never gone, you’ve missed one of Westport’s truly great traditions.
Candlelight is timeless. These Orphenians are from 1979. They could easily be from 2009.
It’s not just the combined talents and power of the choir, chorus, chorale, symphonic orchestra, symphonic band and sophomore band.
It’s not the hauntingly mesmerizing “Sing We Noel” processional — an obscure tune that generations of Candlelight musicians have made their own.
It’s not the happily goofy production number, or the sight of scores of alumni joining hundreds of current Staples students for a rousing “Hallelujah Chorus” at the final Saturday performance.
It’s all that taken together — an hour and a half of beautiful, heartfelt music — and the fact that, for nearly 7 seven decades, the Candlelight Concert has been Westport’s own.
Across America, schools have grappled with the concept of a “Christmas concert.” They’ve added Hanukkah songs and Kwanzaa tunes, or scrapped everything in favor of “Winter Wonderland” and “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Some have done away with the event altogether.
Certainly, Staples has adapted. George Weigle and John Hanulik took what John Ohanian started, and added Hanukkah to the mix. Adele Valovich has broadened the orchestral repertoire, while current choral director Alice Lipson has gone far afield to include traditional African and Asian music.
Significantly, she is a convert to Judaism — and her husband and daughter are both rabbis.
The Candlelight Concert still retains, and showcases, music born of the Christian religion. It is an important part of our cultural canon — and it is beautiful.
Alice, Adele and band leader Nick Mariconda teach their young musicians how to perform Christmas music (and Hanukkah music, and other songs that celebrate life and family and hope and goodness). Just as importantly, they teach them where that music came from; what it means, and why we sing it, play it and appreciate it.
That’s why, year after year, thousands of Westporters flock to Staples’ Candlelight Concert. The audience — Christians, Jews, Buddhists, agnostics and atheists — enjoys every moment. No one forces them to come; no one demands that they stand for the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
As Alice Lipson is fond of saying: “It’s about the music.”
And Westport gets it.
(For the 1st time ever, this year’s Candlelight Concert will be simulcast. Saturday’s 9:30 p.m. performance is available on radio [WWPT-FM 90.3]; television [Cablevision Channel 78], and the internet [Staples Television Network www.stn78.com. For more information, call the Staples music department: 203-341-1307.]
Posted in Arts, Staples HS, Teenagers
Tutoring is big business. Among the biggest — we’re talking both price and results — is Advantage Testing.
Alex Freedman
Advantage’s Alex Freedman recently opened a Westport branch. If you think that name is familiar, you’re right. Staples’ 1996 salutatorian, Alex went on to graduate magna cum laude from Harvard. For the past 8 years he’s tutored nearly every test except kindergarten admissions: SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, ETC etc. (He’s also worked with Phil Ramone, Stephen Sondheim and Kander and Ebb, but that’s a different blog post.)
Alex is the real deal. An outstanding classical and jazz pianist, as well as an easy-going, soft-spoken and incredibly intelligent man, he commands the toppest of top dollars. Alex has quickly become the go-to guy for high-end Fairfield County tutoring.
But Alex is just as happy talking about Advantage Testing’s outreach program for underprivileged, high achieving youngsters.
The company sponsors a nationwide math contest for girls. The inaugural event featured $44,000 in prizes.
In partnership with Harvard and NYU Law Schools, Advantage created a 5-week summer course for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the nation’s top law schools. The program provides rigorous LSAT and application process preparation, as well as lectures by prominent lawyers and public figures. Advantage also offers LSAT tutoring on a pro bono basis.
With Princeton University, Advantage supplies virtually all funding for Leadership for a Diverse America, an intensive SAT prep, college admissions counseling and leadership training program. Alex has participated actively in this project (and the other 2 as well).
With all they’re doing, Advantage Testing is looking for tutoring help. Not tutees — they need tutors.
Age and background don’t matter — though a strong academic resume is obviously helpful. “If you’re intelligent and passionate about teaching, and want to work 1-on-1 with some of the best kids in the world — well, we’re a unique company,” says Alex. “This is a great place to work.”
If you — or someone you know — wants to work with this high-end, highly outreach-motivated company, contact westport@advantagetesting.com.
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Posted in Education, Local business, People
Tagged ACT, Advantage Testing, Alex Freedman, SAT
Around here, Al DiGuido is known as the founder of Al’s Angels — one of Westport’s most hard-working, community-directed service organizations.
In the real world, Al is chief executive of CEO of Zeta Interactive, a New York company that monitors more than 100 million blogs, message boards and social media posts to analyze the feelings of potential consumers.
In today’s New York Times, Al weighed in on Tiger Woods’ recent woes. The formerly squeaky clean, bed-hopping corporate-icon golfer and erstwhile idol has suffered “the quickest fall from positive to negative we’ve ever seen” in the 5 years his company has measured such buzz.
In other words: Tiger Woods is no angel.
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Posted in Organizations, People, Sports
Tagged Al DiGuido, Al's Angels, Tiger Woods, Zeta Interactive
Westport may be the only place in the world where a Tiffany store sits within sight of a homeless shelter.
Most of downtown Westport is not so extreme. As high-end as our shops are, most are not in Tiffany’s league. And the Gillespie Center — despite its important central location — is the only place like it around.
Still, in the holiday spirit, here’s an “06880” suggestion: If you can afford to shop at Tiffany’s, please consider walking a few yards up the street giving something — anything — to the men at the homeless shelter.
Or any other worthy cause, of your choice.
Posted in Downtown, Organizations, Westport life
Tagged Gillespie Center, Homes With Hope, Tiffany
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